New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-16
THE DRAMA-MUSIC.
,.pAH RrsNHARpr AS "CAMiLLE.'

II ia mt perhaps judicious to Withdraw success
full novelty and replace it with hackneyed itetaon'
Nothing could be characteristics more essen'ay
representative of Nine Bernhardts dramatic metnoo
and nature than the type Of woman that Is SHOWN
n; her nerscnation of Fedora" 1t exhibits TO spgu
lar advantage her victorious attributes aud her trai
STYLE IL was brilliantly elective on Monoay night,
and its repetition would certainly have found favor
II will again given this evening and at future tunes
but last night 1t was set aside py reVNa.Ln peh
cnce of and Cordial throng- Oh tue rTencn
drama which American au1epces know under the
name of Camille This is o very old story, and one
that presents subject dsagreeable i2r anu
difficult tor remark. There are many distressing s.u
stions in the play OF Camille, ara these pcstue oeS
cnyironed with associations OF impurity are postured
in such way as, or less, TO confuse INC uoi
sense As often as this piece recnrs, accordingly
seems needrul that slight word OF protest shoud DC
spoken against it. Every thinking observer khomS S
that its theme is more appropriate 10 tne nospiai
than To the stage and certainly, that ii Is not sulta-
BILE one for that peculiar sort OF public consideration
discussion which ensues upon arainaSc peiiJh, t
ance On the other hand il Is not to be denied mat
Camille affords ample scope for emotlOh.i osPaJ
ia the art OF acting. As commonly presented nele s
heroine Ia n beautiful woman, radically virtuous by
nature who has been driven into lite OF shameful SIM
who is compelled to remain in that lie under cncu
stances of MEMORABLE social tyranny ana VINO becomes
NOT only pathetic but sublime by an heroic self-sacr
fee 1t Is perhaps needless to remark that consid-
cradle shutting OF the pack was necessary3and was
made-betore this deal could be Accomplished
Mn Beruhardt presents, OF course, the orlgnal
French play The odor OF it Is not fragrant but ner
nertormance of the central character is marked by
nonsmmate and beautiful thoroughness OF execution
aud ia not only radiant with fine moments bnt az a
whole il a superb piece of melancholy ana deploraDe
truth PIavgoers will seldom see mani festatons or
human nature so affecting as Mme Bernhsrdts reVeia-
tion of Candles misery when reading me reproach-
full letter of her lover; nor have they often seen PFC
tnre more i'm preesve than Nine. BernhaIdts image am
denotement of tho final ecstacy OF Candles deatn
Ii NAV or il NAV not be an intentional elclty IN tnls
impersonation but certainly 1t seems TO be i9hua
len tai attribute to this actors ideal that Deneatn inc
ain and shame OF Camilles" cOnulfl0n tdSre ehaii
be strain OF physical purity and at last that the ca
pacty of spiritual shall be developed 10 her
by the action OF true love- mus WINE the stiuc 81 ,t
this work is not directly reared the basis OF sell
conflict at the outset it becomes type OF sei-connct
before il IA completely evolved. The goodness IL tne
womans nature after love has awakened II, Is tor
To red by thotant OF unhoy the sense OF shame
and the hungry craving tor impossible happiness.
doomed traitor 10 everlasting torment beno!dlng
heaven and feeling hell" The effect OF pathos that is
produced by Nine Bernhard does not, however ensue
from her presentment OF moral heroism out rather
from her display OF an eAqusile human cIvitu III ~
dreadful trouble and pain. The lie OF this Camille
while uudisurbed in the society OF her lovei is that
of eensuous ecstacy. She almost Durrs with pleasure
When this happiness is shattered she becomes t0I-
tured outcast and wretch. , ,,s .,,,o
1.-The piece makes draft upon the springsgol sine
Bernhardts essential power. The amazing ana ae-
httu resources OF her art nevert heess are seady
and superbly employed its service. The suosIan
tial value OF the impersonaion, II IL has an! apart
from beauty of and texture, consists IN th
II shows what a woman may become under crcum-
stances OF luxury and temptation, when she ye!ds 10
vanity and passion and drifts away from VI
RIGHT principle and yirtuous heart. =, n,
The dramatic company associated with Nine Bern
bardt ia useful but thus tar it has disclosed no me-
Der OF cons picIvus ability.